The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called a Euro-demonstration in Brussels on 19 March. Its purpose is to defend employment and fundamental social rights and to demonstrate against the so-called Bolkestein Directive on the liberalization of services in Europe’s internal market (a Directive which EU Commissioner McCreevy recently declared he was willing to amend, but not withdraw). The demonstration which will begin at 12.30 and end at roughly 5.00 pm is expected to be attended by at least 50,000 people. In view of the forthcoming European Council of 22/23 March, which is called to adopt a package of measures for the revival of the Lisbon Strategy, the ETUC intends to reminds the Heads of State and of Government of the Twenty-Five of the soundness of the Strategy’s “initial ambitions” and the need to “maintain and reinforce the balance between its three pillars: social, environmental and economic”. Only in this way can the dual objective be achieved of creating new and better jobs and at the same time guaranteeing to workers the existence and protection of fundamental social rights, now considered “at risk”, also through “greater investments in education and training throughout life, research and innovation”. For further information, consult the website www.etuc.org
